Gayngs Win Lawsuit Against Tour Bus Company

One night back in October, the all-star Minneapolis soft-rock crew Gayngs (which features Bon Iver's Justin Vernon) discovered that their tour bus, with all their equipment and belongings inside, had vanished. Though they initially believed the bus to be stolen, they later discovered that C.J. Starbuses, the company that owned the bus, had ordered its driver to return the bus to the company's Nashville headquarters because of a dispute over an unpaid $6,000 bill. According to the members of the band, the company gave no warning. As a result, Gayngs had to cancel their set at the Austin City Limits festival, the final date of that tour. But today, C.J. Starbuses boss C.J. Curtsinger probably regrets his decision.

As previously reported, Gayngs responded to the incident by taking legal action against the bus company. According to a press release, the band won its lawsuit against C.J. Starbuses last week, when a jury awarded Gayngs "over $100,000 in compensatory and punitive damages." The press release states that Gayngs' attorneys proved that C.J. Starbuses "engaged in unfair and deceptive practices and that they maliciously prevented Gayngs from performing its concert at the 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival."

In that press release, Gayngs manager Nate Vernon (brother of Justin) says, "I am extremely relieved that the jury understood the turmoil, both emotionally and financially, the band has gone through as a result being forced to cancel our ACL performance. No amount of money can make up for being deprived of that show; however, the peace of mind which comes from justice is the next best thing."

Below, watch Gayngs' video for "The Gaudy Side of Town". And not that they're hurting for seriously fly all-white suits, but with $100,000 more in their bank accounts, the members of Gayngs could buy a whole lot more seriously fly all-white suits.